Burton D. Fisher's extremely popular Mini Guides feature Principal Characters in the Opera, Brief Story Synopsis, Story Narrative with Music Highlight Examples, and an insightful and in depth Commentary and Analysis of the opera.

“Delightful and anti-reverential”—Sunday Times (London) With an encyclopedic knowledge of opera and a delightful dash of irreverence, Sir Denis Forman throws open the world of opera—its structure, composers, conductors, and artists—in this hugely informative guide. A Night at the Opera dissects the eighty-three most popular operas recorded on compact disc, from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur to Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. For each opera, Sir Denis details the plot and cast of characters, awarding stars to parts that are “worth looking out for,” “really good,” or, occasionally, “stunning.” He goes on to tell the history of each opera and its early reception. Finally, each work is graded from alpha to gamma (although the Ring cycle gets an “X”), and Sir Denis has no qualms about voicing his opinion: the first act of Fidelio is “a bit of a mess,” while the last scene of Don Giovanni “towers above the comic finales of Figaro and Così and whether or not [it] is Mozart's greatest opera, it is certainly his most powerful finale.” The guide also presents brief biographies of the great composers, conductors, and singers. A glossary of musical terms is included, as well as Operatica, or the essential elements of opera, from the proper place and style of the audience's applause (and boos) to the use of subtitles. A Night at the Opera is for connoisseurs and neophytes alike. It will entertain and inform, delight and (perhaps) infuriate, providing a subject for lively debate and ready reference for years to come.

Puccini is the most beloved composer of opera in the world: one quarter of all opera performances in the U.S. are of his operas, his music pervades movie soundtracks, and his plots have infiltrated our popular culture. But, although Puccini’s art still captivates audiences and the popularity of such works as Tosca, La Bohéme, and Madama Butterfly has never waned, he has long been a victim of critical snobbery and cultural marginalization. In this witty and informative guide for beginners and fans alike, William Berger sets the record straight, reclaiming Puccini as a serious artist. Combining his trademark irreverent humor with passionate enthusiasm, Berger strikes just the right balance of introductory information and thought-provoking analysis. He includes a biography, discussions of each opera, a glossary, fun facts and anecdotes, and above all keen insight into Puccini’s enduring power. For anyone who loves Puccini and for anyone who just wonders what all the fuss is about, Puccini Without Excuses is funny, challenging, and always a pleasure to read. INCLUDES: • Why Puccini’s art and its message of hope is crucial to our world today • How Anglo audiences often miss the mythic significance of his operas • The use of his music as shorthand in films, from A Room with a View to Fatal Attraction • A scene-by scene analysis of each opera • A guide to the wealth of available recordings, books, and videos

(Vocal Collection). Contents: Handel: V'adoro pupille (Giulio Cesare) Mozart: Porgi, amor (Le Nozze di Figaro) * Dove sono (Le Nozze Figaro) * Deh vieni, non tardar (Le Nozze di Figaro) * Bester Jungling (Der Schauspieldirektor) * Batti, batti, bel Masetto (Don Giovanni) * Vedrai carino (Don Giovanni) * Ach, ich fuhl's (Die Zauberflote) Beethoven: O war' ich schon mit dir vereint (Fidelio) C.M. von Weber: Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen (Der Freischutz) Verdi: Caro nome (Rigoletto) * Saper vorreste (Un Ballo in Maschera) * Sul fil d'un soffio etesio (Falstaff) Gounod: The Jewel Song (Faust) * Ah! Je veux vivre (Romeo et Juliette) Bizet: Je dis que rien ne m 'epouvante (Carmen) Offenbach: Elle a fui, la tourterelle! (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) Massenet: Adieu, notre petite table (Manon) Leoncavallo: Ballatella (I Pagliacci) Puccini: Mi chiamano Mimi (La Boheme) * Donde lieta (La Boheme) * Quando men vo (La Boheme) * Un bel di (Madama Butterfly) * O mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi) * Signore, ascolta (Turandot) * Tu che di gel sei cinta (Turandot) Menotti: The Black Swan (The Medium) * Monica's Waltz (The Medium) Moore: Willow Song (The Ballad of Baby Doe) * The Silver Aria (The Ballad of Baby Doe) Mechem: Fair Robin, I love (Tartuffe).

From the opera "Adriana Lecouvreur," this gorgeous melody has been skillfully set for women's choir by Nancy Grundahl. The original aria requires a mature singer and conductor. As a choral piece, it requires an equally mature chorus and a skilled conductor who can shape this very rubato and expressive music into a cohesive ensemble experience. When that ensemble sound is achieved, this piece will not soon be forgotten by singers or their audiences.

This Companion celebrates the extraordinary riches of the twentieth-century operatic repertoire in a collection of specially commissioned essays written by a distinguished team of academics, critics and practitioners. Beginning with a discussion of the century's vital inheritance from late-romantic operatic traditions in Germany and Italy, the text embraces fresh investigations into various aspects of the genre in the modern age, with a comprehensive coverage of the work of individual composers from Debussy and Schoenberg to John Adams and Harrison Birtwistle. Traditional stylistic categorizations (including symbolism, expressionism, neo-classicism and minimalism) are reassessed from new critical perspectives, and the distinctive operatic traditions of Continental and Eastern Europe, Russia and the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and United States are subjected to fresh scrutiny. The volume includes essays devoted to avant-garde music theatre, operettas and musicals, filmed opera, and ends with a discussion of the position of the genre in today's cultural marketplace.